At least four people sustained gunshot wounds during a World Cup celebration in Brockton, Massachusetts, on Friday night, authorities reported.
The incident occurred as hundreds of people gathered in the downtown area to watch Cape Verde compete. Police received multiple reports of gunfire on Main Street just before midnight and responded to the intersection of Main Street and Park Street, where they discovered the victims.
Details regarding the severity of the injuries and the identities of those shot have not yet been released. Brockton Police have stated that no arrests have been made and an investigation into the incident is underway.
Videos circulating online depicted large crowds celebrating, with individuals dancing, singing, and waving flags. Some footage showed fans leaning out of car windows as drivers honked their horns, and a police cruiser was seen patrolling the area with flashing lights.
The celebration followed Cape Verde's draw against Saudi Arabia, a result that secured the small island nation a spot in the World Cup's knockout round. This marked a significant achievement for Cape Verde, making it the smallest country to reach this stage of the tournament.
Brockton is known for having the largest Cape Verdean population in the United States. Previous celebrations for Cape Verde's World Cup success, including a draw against Spain, had reportedly been peaceful, with one instance showing Boston police officers interacting positively with fans.